the imitation of christ(效仿基督)-第39节
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devoutly upon Me。
3。 〃Be thou more calm of spirit； and gird thyself for greater endurance。
All is not frustrated； though thou find thyself very often afflicted or
grievously tempted。 Thou art man； not God； thou art flesh； not an angel。
How shouldst thou be able to remain alway in the same state of virtue；
when an angel in heaven fell； and the first man in paradise？ I am He who
lifteth up the mourners to deliverance； and those who know their own
infirmity I raise up to my own nature。〃
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4。 O Lord； blessed be Thy word； sweeter to my mouth than honey and
the honeycomb。 What should I do in my so great tribulations and
anxieties； unless Thou didst comfort me with Thy holy words？ If only I
may attain unto the haven of salvation； what matter is it what things or
how many I suffer？ Give me a good end； give me a happy passage out of
this world。 Remember me； O my God； and lead me by the right way unto
Thy Kingdom。 Amen。
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CHAPTER 93
Of deeper matters； and God's hidden judgments which are not to be
inquired into
〃My Son； beware thou dispute not of high matters and of the hidden
judgments of God； why this man is thus left； and that man is taken into so
great favour； why also this man is so greatly afflicted； and that so highly
exalted。 These things pass all man's power of judging； neither may any
reasoning or disputation have power to search out the divine judgments。
When therefore the enemy suggesteth these things to thee； or when any
curious people ask such questions； answer with that word of the Prophet；
Just art Thou； O Lord； and true is Thy judgment；（1） and with this； The
judgments of the Lord are true； and righteous altogether。（2） My
judgments are to be feared； not to be disputed on； because they are
incomprehensible to human understanding。
2。 〃And be not given to inquire or dispute about the merits of the
Saints； which is holier than another； or which is the greater in the
Kingdom of Heaven。 Such questions often beget useless strifes and
contentions： they also nourish pride and vain glory； whence envyings and
dissensions arise； while one man arrogantly endeavoureth to exalt one
Saint and another another。 But to wish to know and search out such
things bringeth no fruit； but it rather displeaseth the Saints； for I am not
the God of confusion but of peace；（3） which peace consisteth more in true
humility than in self…exaltation。
3。 〃Some are drawn by zeal of love to greater affection to these Saints
or those； but this is human affection rather than divine。 I am He Who made
all the Saints： I gave them grace； I brought them glory； I know the merits
of every one； I prevented them with the blessings of My goodness。（4） I
foreknew my beloved ones from everlasting； I chose them out of the
world；（5） they did not choose Me。 I called them by My grace； drew them
by My mercy； led them on through sundry temptations。 I poured mighty
consolations upon them； I gave them perseverance； I crowned their
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patience。
4。 〃I acknowledge the first and the last； I embrace all with inestimable
love。 I am to be praised in all My Saints； I am to be blessed above all
things； and to be honoured in every one whom I have so gloriously exalted
and predestined； without any preceding merits of their own。 He therefore
that shall despise one of the least of these My people； honoureth not the
great； because I made both small and great。（6） And he who speaketh
against any of My Saints speaketh against Me； and against all others in the
Kingdom of Heaven。〃
They are all one through the bond of charity； they think the same
thing； will the same thing； and all are united in love to one another。
5。 〃But yet （which is far better） they love Me above themselves and
their own merits。 For being caught up above themselves； and drawn
beyond self…love； they go all straightforward to the love of Me； and they
rest in Me in perfect enjoyment。 There is nothing which can turn them
away or press them down； for being full of Eternal Truth； they burn with
the fire of inextinguishable charity。 Therefore let all carnal and natural
men hold their peace concerning the state of the Saints； for they know
nothing save to love their own personal enjoyment。 They take away and
add according to their own inclination； not as it pleaseth the Eternal Truth。
6。 〃In many men this is ignorance； chiefly is it so in those who； being
little enlightened； rarely learn to love any one with perfect spiritual love。
They are still much drawn by natural affection and human friendship to
these or to those： and as they reckon of themselves in lower matters； so
also do they frame imaginations of things heavenly。 But there is an
immeasurable difference between those things which they imperfectly
imagine； and these things which enlightened men behold through
supernatural revelation。
7。 〃Take heed； therefore； My son； that thou treat not curiously those
things which surpass thy knowledge； but rather make this thy business and
give attention to it； namely； that thou seek to be found； even though it be
the least； in the Kingdom of God。 And even if any one should know who
were holier than others； or who were held greatest in the Kingdom of
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Heaven； what should that knowledge profit him； unless through this
knowledge he should humble himself before Me； and should rise up to
give greater praise unto My name？ He who considereth how great are
his own sins； how small his virtues； and how far he is removed from the
perfection of the Saints； doeth far more acceptably in the sight of God；
than he who disputeth about their greatness or littleness。
8。 〃They are altogether well content； if men would learn to be content；
and to refrain from vain babbling。 They glory not of their own merits；
seeing they ascribe no good unto themselves； but all unto Me； seeing that I
of my infinite charity have given them all things。 They are filled with so
great love of the Divinity； and with such overflowing joy； that no glory is
lacking to them； neither can any felicity be lacking。 All the Saints； the
higher they are exalted in glory； the humbler are they in themselves； and
the nearer and dearer are they unto Me。 And so thou hast it written that
they cast their crowns before God and fell on their faces before the Lamb；
and worshipped Him that liveth for ever and ever。（7）
9。 〃Many ask who is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven； who know
not whether they shall be worthy to be counted among the least。 It is a
great thing to be even the least in Heaven； where all are great； because all
shall be called； and shall be； the sons of God。 A little one shall become a
thousand； but the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed。
For when the disciples asked who should be the greatest in the Kingdom
of Heaven； they received no other answer than this； Except ye be
converted and become as little children； ye shall not enter into the
Kingdom of Heaven。 But whosoever shall humble himself as this little
child； the same shall be greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven。（8）
10。 Woe unto them who disdain to humble themselves willingly with
the little children； for the low gate of the kingdom of Heaven will not
suffer them to enter in。 Woe also to them who a
